Researchers: 'It was a surprise to all of us'

(New Scientist) In the adversarial, macho environment of the courtroom, a booming voice might seem like a good trait for a lawyer to cultivate. Not so – men who sound very masculine are actually less likely to win a US Supreme Court case than their more gentle-sounding peers.

It’s well known that the sound of our voice shapes how people perceive us, which in turn may affect how successful we are in various walks of life. Men, for example, are more likely to vote for men with deeper, masculine voices in leadership contests, and both men and women prefer women with a more masculine tone as leaders. CEOs with deeper voices tend to manage larger companies and earn more money.